Thread feed arresting device



Dec. M, i948. Y J. T. GORDON ErAL 2,456,406

THREAD FEED ARRESTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed oct. 1.o. 194sINVENTORS N ORD MO E.S0 DAY M TTORNEY Patented Dec. 14, 1948" THREADFEED ARRESTINQ DEVICE I J ohn T. Gordon and Raymond E. Solliday, Akron,

Ohio, asslgnors tor Wingfoot Corporation,

Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application October 10, 1946,Serial No. 702,526 2' claims. (c1. sv-ss) The present invention relatesto an improved forni of thread feed arresting device for use inconventional thread manipulatingapparatus. More particularly, theinvention pertains to an automatically operable device which actswhenever one of several moving threads, yarns, or the like or thecomposite thread bundle formed therefrom is broken or otherwiseinterrupted to cut simultaneously all of the individual threads beingfed through the device.

The thread feed arresting device of the invention is particularlyadvantageously adapted to be vemployed in the conventionaldoubler-twister machines which serve to ply together a plurality ofindividual threads to form a composite thread bundle. In such operationsit is essential to stop the thread plying operation in the event thatone or more of the individual threads being plied up becomes broken orthe supply thereof is other- Wise interrupted so as to preventthe-running of less than the desired number of threads. It is alsodesirable to stop the operation of such apparatus if the compositethread bundle being ormed should become broken.

Certain 'types of thread feed arresting devices are already available inthe industry for accomplishing one or theother of the above-mentionedoperations. None of the conventional devices, however, is known to haveeiectively combined both operations to insure the successful opera` tionof the thread manipulating apparatus with which. it is associated. f

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a threadfeed arresting device for simultaneously cutting thev several individualthreads as they pass through the manipulating apparatus in the eventthat the supply of one or more of said threads is inadvertentlyinterrupted or the composite thread bundle formed by plying together theseveral threads becomes broken.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a highlyeicient and economically manfacturable device for arresting threadfeeding operations which will have universal application in any ofseveral conventional forms of thread manipulating equipment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description of one form of device embodying the principles of thepresent invention proceeds. In the drawings, Fig. l shows a conventionaltype of thread manipulating apparatus employing one form of thread feedarresting device embodying 4the teachings of the present invention. Fig.2 is aside elevation of the thread feed arresting device of theinvention at a somewhat larger scale. Figs. 3 and 4 correspond generallyto Fig. 2, but illustrate the disposition of the several operatingelements of the device in their respective operating positions. Fig. 5is a plan view of the device of Fig. 2 as seen from the In Fig. 1 of thedrawings, the reference numeral l identifies a conventional form oidoublertwister apparatus employed in the manufacture of thread, cord,and the like from a plurality of individual threads or strands. Thedoublertwister apparatus l embodies, among other things, a frame 2 whichcarries a spindle support 8 thereon. The spindle support 3 is providedwith a plurality of spindles [l and guide bars ll which are arranged insubstantially vertical rows and disposed in spaced, mutually parallelrelation to each other so as to extend in a substantihly horizontalposition from the spindle support il.

Each of the spindles d carries a supply spool d; l, t, eachv of whichprovides an individual strand or thread end t, it, 'il for incorporationinto a nished doubled and twisted thread bundle or cord. The threads il,lll, li from each of the several spools t, l, B, respectively, aredirected through a guide i2, one of which is provided for each series ofsupply spools and mounted upon the longitudinally extending base portionof the spindle support El on the frame 2 of the machine. The severalthreads 9, ill, and ii are drawn together in mutually parallel relationby the guide l2 in which form they are thereafter subjected to any oneof several different processing treatments and finally twisted into a:finished compositev thread bundle or cord.

In accordance with conventional procedure in `the manufacture of acomposite thread bundle or cord, the bundle is passed over a freelyrotatably mounted roller i3 which is supported by a longitudinallyextending shaft it in such a way as to enable it to dip into a tank l5of suitable processing liquor. It will be readily understood that theprocessing liquor employed in the tank l5 may take the form of certainadhesive materials or lubricating liquids which facilitate the twistingtogether of the individual threads 9, Ill, and H into afinished-composite thread bundle and ,insure that the projecting bers inthe individual threads will be held in place in the bundle.

. In the illustrated form of doubler-twister apparatus l shown in Fig.1, the individual threads 9, It, and il, after being subjected toprocessing treatment on the roller I3, pass through the thread feedarresting device i6, under the driven 3 rolls I1 and Il, over theweighted roller Il. and through the pigtail guide 25 to a collectingmeans 2i with the aid of which the composite thread bundle is collectedin the form of a precision-wound package upon a spool 22. The collectingmeans indicated generally by the refer ence character 2i embodies arotatably mounted pulley 23 on -which the spool 22 is mounted forrotation. The pulley 23 is supported by a stationary rail member 24 anddriven by a belt 25. The composite thread bundle is built up in the formof a precision-wound package by means oi a ring twister mechanismembodying a ring 28 y mounted upon a ring rail 21 which is reclprocatedin a direction axially of the spool 22. The ring 26 carries a traveler28 through which the composite thread bundle is directed to the spool 22in the laying up of the thread package 29.

The thread feed arresting device i6 of the present invention has a framemember which is provided with a mounting flange 3| facilitating itsdisposition in the doubler-twister apparatus l in proper operatingrelation with respect to the driven feed rolls I1 and I8. A series ofguide eyes 32, 33, and 34 are formed on weighted lever arms 35, 36, and31, respectively, for the yreception of the individual threads 9, I0,and il from the supply spools 6, 1, and 8. The several threads 9, IU,and Il, after passing through the guide eyes 32, 33, and 34, are drawntogether in the form of a composite thread bundle 38 by theguide 39through which they next pass. From the guide 39, the composite threadbundle 38 next passes under the roller guide means or abutment 40 whichis freely rotatably mounted upon the headed pin 4I secured to the framemember 38 of the thread feed arresting device i6.

The composite thread bundle 38, after'passing under the abutment 48, iscarried upwardly in contact with the driven feed roll I1 (see Fig. 2),around the weighted roller I9, and thereafter in contact with the drivenfeed roll I8 from which it is directed over the grooved roller guide 42to the pigtail guide 20 and the collecting means 2| ofthedoubler-twister apparatus i. The grooved roller guide 42 is freelyrotatably supported by a swingably mounted arm 43 arranged to pivotabout a pivot pin 44 secured to the frame member 30 of the thread feedarresting device I6. The arm 43, as will be seen from Fig. 4, isnormally biased'toward the uppermost position of its pivotal movementabout the pivot pin 44 by means of thetension spring 45-, one end ofwhich is affixed to the arm 43 adjacent its pivoted mounting, while theother end is secured to the frame member 30. The running compositethread bundle 38, when it is passed over the grooved roller guide 42,tends to bias the arm 43 into its lowermost position as illustrated inFig. 2 of the drawings against the action of the spring 45.

A slide bar or rod 46 is mounted on the face of the frame member 30 ofthe thread feed arresting device I6 so as to be slidable in a horizontalposition in the mounting means 41 and 48. The rod 46 is normally urgedtoward the right as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings by means of acompression spring 49 disposed between the face of the mounting means 41and the collar 50 secured to the rod 46. The rod 46 is provided with asquared end portion I which registers with a notched portion 52 of aninsert 53 provided at the'pivotally mounted end portion of the arm 43when the composite thread bundle 38 is running over the grooved rollerguide 42, and the several individual threads 9, I0, and II are properlypassing through the doubler-twister apparatus to the collecting device2|.

On the right hand end of the rod 46 and adjacent the mounting means 43is mounted a trip means or sleeve 54 which is provided with limitedmovement in a direction axially of the rod 48 by means of the slottedhole 55 with which the pin 55 inserted in the rod 48 registers. .Thesleeve 54 is so disposed with respect to the weighted lever arms 35, 36,and 31 that the projecting portions 51 thereon will contact the sleeveand cause it to move axially of the rod 46 when one or more of saidlever arms swing downwardly about their pivotal mounting upon the framemember 30 of the thread feed arresting device I6.

A suitable severing means or knife 58 is secured to a counterweightmember 59 which is rotatably mounted about a pivot pin 68 secured to theframe member 30 in such a way as to enable the knife to contact theabutment 40 when the counterweight is in the lowermost position of itsarcuate path about the pivot pin 69. In the normal operation of thedoubier-twister apparatus I, the knife 68 is held out of contact withthe abutment 40 as by means of a holding means or pawli6 I which engagesa notch 62 in the counterweight 59. The pawl 6I is pivotally mountedabout a post 63 secured to the frame member 30 and has a small weight 64secured thereto for insuring the engagement of said pawl with the notch62 in the counterweight the device is being threaded up.

The threading up of the thread feed arresting device i8 is facilitatedby the provision of a locking means 65 which takes the form of a leverarm mounted for pivotal movement about a. pivot pin 68 secured to theframe member 30.01' the device. A pin 61 in the counterweight 59 extendsout wardly at right angles to the face of the frame member 30 forcontact with the free end portion of the locking means 65. The movementof the locking means 65 is restricted by the limit pins 69 secured tothe face of the frame member 30 above and below the locking means and ahole 69 drilled in the locking means is adapted to register with theconically shaped pin 'i8 to enable the locking means to be held againstthe 1owermost limited pin 68 during the threading up operations againstthe action of the tension spring It will be readily understood that theconventional double-twister apparatus comprises a series of individualoperating stations arranged axially along the machine in spaced,generally parallel relation. Each of these stations comprises aplurality of supply spools 6, 1, and 3, the dip roll I3, thread feedarresting device I6, weighted roll I9, and thread collecting device 2i,while the driven feed rolls I1 and I8 extend longitudinally of theapparatus and serve to draw the individual threads 9, l0, and I I fromtheir respective supply spools 6, 1, and 9, to form the same into thecomposite thread bundle 38 for collection in the form of aprecision-wound thread package 29 on the collecting device 2 I.

As will be noted from Figs. 2 and 5, the ends of the individual threads9, I0, and II are threaded through the eyes 32, 33, and 34,respectively, on the weighted lever arms 35, 36, and 31. In thethreading up operation, the locking means 65 is disposed in contact withthe lowermost limit pin 68 by registration of the hole 69 with the pin10, thereby temporarily holding the counterweight 59 in the uppermostposition of its arc with respect to its pivot pin 60 by reason of thecontact 59 when .stations on the double-twister apparatus.

of the free end of the locking means with the weighted roll I9, andfinally under the feed roll I8.

jThe composite bundle 88 formed of the individual threads 9, I0, and AII, after passing under the feed roll I8, is then directed over thegrooved roller 42, causing the same to swing downwardly against theaction ofthe spring t5 and permitting the squared end portion 5I of therod 46 to register with the notch 52 in the insertI 53. After the end ofthe composite thread bundle 38 has been fastened to the collecting spool22 of the collecting means ZI, the locking means 65 may be released fromits engagement with the pin 13, thereafter bringing all of the operatingelements of the thread feed arresting device I8 into the relationshipillustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the individual Vthreads 9, ID, and I I nowsupport the Weighted lever arms 3B. 36, and 3l' against the weightsthereon while the composite thread bundle 38 passing over the groovedroller guide it holds the swingably mounted arm d3 in its lowermostposition about the pivot pin 44. In the event that there should be anyinterruption in the supply of any one of the individual threads 9, I, or

II, the weighted lever arm associated with that individual thread willbe depressed by the action of the weight. Such an instance isillustrated in Fig. 3 in which the supply of the individual thread IU issupposedly broken, thereby permitting the lever arm 38 to dropdownwardly, causing the projecting portion 5l thereon to contact the endof the sleeve 5d adjacent thereto.

The action of thecontact of the projecting portion 3l of the arm 36 withthe sleeve dit causes the latter to move in a direction axially of therod 08 or toward the left as illustrated in Fig. 3

until the-pin 56 registers with the right hand extremity of the slottedhole 55. This movement of the sleeve 54 brings the left hand extremitywill run through the apparatus to the collecting spool 22 and,thereafter, that particular station on the double-twister apparatus Iwill cease to operate unti1-the cause of the interruption in the supplyof the individual thread ill has been corrected and the machine againthreaded up in the manner previously described. i

The thread feed arresting device It of the present invention, inaddition to preventing the singling operation, operates upon thebreaking of the composite thread bundle 38 to cut simultaneously all ofthe individual threads Il. I0, andi I passing therethrough, thuspreventing any possibility of the free end of the composite bundlebecoming entangled with adjacent positions or It will be understood thatif the broken end of the thread bundle 38 were to continue to feedthrough the apparatus after thebundlev ceases to be collected upon thecollecting spool 22, the collecting packages 29 at adjacent stations onthe machine could' the pivot pin 44. This action of the arm 43 causes Vthe squared end portion 5I of the rod 46 to become disengaged from thenotch 52 in the insert 63, thereby -causing the rod 46 to be urgedtoward the left, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, com pressing spring49. This axial movement of the rod 46 causes the pin 58 to engage the.left hand end of the slotted hole 55 in the sleeve 54, resulting in thecontact of that end of the sleeve 54 with the pawl I. The movement ofthe pawl 6I causes it to become disengaged from the notch 82 in thecounterweight 59, permitting the counterweight to swing downwardly andbringing vthe knife 58 into contact with the abutment 40 immediatelysevering all of the individual threads 9. I8, and II simultaneously. Y

The thread feed arresting device IS of the present invention thusachieves a two-foldpurpose, namely the preventing of the running offewer than the required number of individual threads to be formed into acomposite bundle as well as the discontinuance of operation of the feedrolls upon the breaking of the composite thread bundle. It will bereadilyunderstood that certain modifications may be made in thestructure of the thread feed arresting device without in anyWaydeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

While in accordance with the patent statutes one best known `embodimentof the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is tobe particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto orthereby, but that the inventive scope is dened in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Thread feed arresting mechanism for controlling the travel of threadand the like through apparatus embodying the delivery of individualthreads from each of a plurality of supply packages to a collectingmeans on which said threads are collected in the form of a compositethread bundle, said arresting mechanism comprising .an abutment aboutwhich the individual 'threads pass; severing means co-acting with theabutment for simultaneously cutting all of the individual threads; meansswingably supporting the severing means; means, holding the severingmeans out of contact with the abutment; trip means for releasing theholding means and causing the severing means to operate; a weightedlever arm supported by eachindividual thread for actuating the tripmeans upon the interruption of the supply of said thread; a guide meansin contact with which the thread bundle passes; biasing means forretracting the guide means which actuates the trip means when the threadbundle is broken; and disengageable locking means for temporarilyretaining the several elementsof the mechanism in inoperative relationuntil the mechanism has been completely threaded up. I

2. A thread feed arresting device for controlling the travel of threadin an apparatus embodying the delivery of individual threads from eachof a plurality of supply packages to a collecting means l 7 on whichsaid threads are collected in the form of a lcomposite thread bundle,said device comprising a frame; a plurality of individually weightedthread feed guides pivotally mounted on the frame; a delivery guide alsopivotally mounted on the frame; an abutment on the frame against whichthe threads from the individual feed guides pass in their paths oftravel to the delivery guide; a counterweighted cutter pivotally mountedon the frame for engagement with the abutment;.

preventing the unauthorized release of the cutter as the guides arethreaded up.

JOHN T. GORDON. RAYMOND E. SOLLIDAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 596,076 Meehan, Dec. 28, 1897959,263 Reinhardt May 24, 1910 1,211,178 Kozlowski Jan. 2, 1917 151,790,818 Jessen Feb. 3, 1931 2.0511547 Collins July 14, 1936

